Aerospace Engineer, AST, Aerospace Flight Systems (Direct Hire)

Summary The Engineering Directorate at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) is seeking candidates to serve as an Aerospace Engineer across their organizations. These positions include experimental and theoretical analysis of spacecraft, launch vehicle, and aircraft structures to determine their behavior in atmospheric and space environments and their interaction with the environment. Responsibilities Duties described below are at the full-performance level. Duties assigned at a lower grade level will be of more limited scope, performed with less independence and limited complexity; duties will be commensurate with the grade of selected employee. Analyzes, evaluates aerospace vehicles/structures operating within, above, and beyond the earths atmosphere including production, fabrication, operation, certification, and maintenance of aerospace vehicles or integrally associated equipment. Analyzes, tests, evaluates, validates, and certifies flight hardware and system capabilities based on design and operational and safety requirements. Applies critical inquiry, problem solving, and scientific methodology to complete assessments, make recommendations, or resolve issues. Assesses system performance and vehicle integration needs to meet technical and safety objectives; support risk assessments; verifies mitigation implementation through inspection, test, and/or analysis. Coordinates communication and integrate with Program customers and the Engineering Directorate to establish and document technical content, schedule, and deliverables. Determines system performance and interface requirements to meet technical and safety objectives; prepare risk assessments; verifies mitigation implementation through inspection, test, analysis, etc.; develops recommendations; resolves issues. Identifies problems and initiates necessary actions to meet objectives. Performs pre-project planning duties, such as concept development, master integration planning, operations planning, and programming design for projects, taking into account feasibility, costs, and performance. Reports ground and/or flight research results; develops and delivers technical results/briefs to internal and external stakeholders. Supports system engineering activities to ensure delivery of the completed aerospace system. Applies basic knowledge of how products are to be produced, integrated, verified, validated, and transitioned to the next level of the system. Fosters a culture of engagement, diversity, inclusiveness, excellence and innovation. Champion NASAs commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility to create an environment that promotes a commitment to safety, integrity, and teamwork. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications In addition to the Basic Education Requirement (in the Education section below), to qualify for this position you must meet the requirements below. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the particular ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work. NASA utilizes OPM-approved qualification and rating requirements specific for Aerospace Technology (AST) positions which recognizes NASAs unique aerospace work. The specific qualifications and minimum education requirements are further described below and within the education section of the job announcement. To qualify for GS-07, you must have: a) One year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 level: Applying engineering or scientific techniques to assist with aerospace-related projects, research or activities; OR Assisting with collecting the data for aerospace requirements or analysis. OR b) Completed 1 full academic year of graduate study in an appropriate field OR c) You may also qualify at the GS-07 level by meeting one of these Special Provisions: Are in the upper third of your class, based on completed college work at the time of filing an application. Have an average of 2.9 or better on a 4.0 scale for either all completed college work at the time of application, or all college courses completed during the last 2 years of the undergraduate curriculum. Achieved a grade average of B (3.5 on a 4.0 scale) or better in the major field of study where such field is fully qualifying. This is either the average of all completed college work in the major field of study at the time of application or the average of all college courses completed in the major field of study during the last 2 years of the undergraduate curriculum. Elected to membership in one of the national honorary scholastic societies meeting the minimum requirements of the Association of College Honor Societies (other than freshman honor societies). These honor societies are listed at ACHS. Completed 12 months of student trainee experience that includes at least one work period equivalent to the GS-5, or at least 15 months of appropriate student trainee experience which includes one work period equivalent to the GS-04 level. One work period is 2 months or 320 hours. For engineering positions, successfully completed a 5-year program of study, or at least 160 semester hours, leading to a bachelors degree. For engineering positions, have a professional engineering degree, and up to 12 months of experience gained as a technician or technologist equivalent to the GS-5 or higher level. Successfully completed all requirements for two bachelors degrees, one in an appropriate field of science or engineering. Have six months of directly related/specialized experience or training, including 3 months gained after the junior year of college. This experience may have been obtained on a part-time or intermittent basis and may have been paid or unpaid. Received honors or elective positions indicating superior leadership outside of your academic setting. Additionally, your academic standing must have been in the upper half of the graduating class. Have pattern of completing courses that include unusual preparatory value or direct relation to the particular aerospace specialty for which you are being considered. Have creative research aptitude or special talent for NASA scientific or engineering work. This must be shown by evidence obtained and documented by NASA in certifications from college professors or officials, or standardized questionnaires, or similar techniques. OR d) Any combination of experience and graduate study in an appropriate field OR e) Expect to complete at least one of the education degree requirements for this grade level by 04/30/2025. To qualify for GS-09, you must have: a) One year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-07 level: Assisting in the design and development of flight or ground systems, subsystems, components, OR Assisting with collecting the data to support requirements development and analysis; OR Assisting with the preparation of performance and aerospace risk assessments. OR b) Completed all requirements for a masters or equivalent graduate degree in an appropriate field OR c) Completed 2 full academic years of graduate education in an appropriate field OR d) Have an equivalent combination of experience and graduate study as discussed in a), b) and c) above OR e) Expect to complete at least one of the education degree requirements for this grade level by 04/30/2025. To qualify for GS-11, you must have: a) You must have one year of directly related specialized experience equivalent to the GS-09 level: Working with a team engineers involved in the applying scientific methods, and processes related to the analysis of aerospace vehicles to determine their behavior in their environments; OR Supporting the analysis of technical problem solving on flight or ground systems; OR Supporting system engineering activities to ensure delivery of the completed aerospace system. OR b) Completed all requirements for a doctoral degree (i.e., Ph.D. or equivalent) in an appropriate field OR c) Completed 3 full academic years of graduate education in an appropriate field OR d) Have an equivalent combination of experience and graduate study as discussed in a), b) and c) above OR e) Expect to complete at least one of the education degree requirements for this grade level by 04/30/2025. Your resume must include a clear and detailed narrative description, in your own words, of how you meet the required specialized experience. Experience statements copied from a position description, vacancy announcement or other reference material constitutes plagiarism and may result in disqualification and losing consideration for the job. NASA prohibits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-assisted tool in drafting application and assessment responses. Please visit https://www.nasa.gov/careers/how-to-apply/#Artificial-Intelligence to review NASAs guidance on the use of AI tools during the application process. Required college majors for applicants qualifying on the basis of undergraduate or graduate education only (GS-7 through GS-11): Aeronautical Engineering, Aeronautics, Aerospace Engineering, Astronautical Engineering, Astronautics, Biomedical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Materials Engineering, Materials Science, Applied Mechanics, Engineering Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Metallurgy, Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Engineering Physics, Physics, Applied Physics, Engineering Physics, Structural Engineering, Welding Engineering. Other majors will qualify if the major includes or is supplemented as follows: Ceramic Engineering, Ceramics, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Mathematics (Pure or Applied) (or other related field), if it includes or is supplemented by nine semester hours (or the equivalent) in machine design, mechanics, hydraulics, dynamics, thermodynamics, mechanical design or mechanical measurement. Education Basic Education Requirement: You must have successfully completed a bachelors degree by 04/30/2025 with a major in one of the following: a) Engineering from a college or university that has ABET accredited engineering programs b) Physical Science, Mathematics, Life Science or other field of Science c) Computer Science that included 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours of course work in any combination of mathematics, statistics and computer science with at least half of those hours in mathematics and statistics courses that included differential and integral calculus; and that provided an in-depth knowledge of theoretical and practical applications of computer science, including digital computer system architecture and system software organization, the representation and transformation of information structures, and the theoretical models for such representations and transformations. If you did not complete a qualifying bachelors degree, you may be eligible if you have obtained a graduate degree in an AST qualifying field, as listed above. Degrees in engineering technology are not considered qualifying for this position. Engineering degrees earned within the United States: Engineering degrees earned within the United States must be from a college or university that has at least one ABET accredited engineering program. To find out if a school has at least one ABET accredited program, please visit http://www.abet.org. Engineering degrees earned outside the United States: Engineering degrees earned outside the United States must be recognized by a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA), often known as accords. These are non-governmental agreements among organizations that accredit academic degree programs. MRAs recognize the substantial equivalence of mature accreditation systems and programs accredited by signatory organizations within their jurisdictions. For a listing of Signatories, please visit, https://www.abet.org/global-presence/mutual-recognition-agreements/is-your-program-recognized/. Science and other related degrees earned within the United States: Science and other related degrees must have been awarded from colleges or universities that are accredited by recognized accrediting organizations. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, go to http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. Science and other related degrees earned outside the United States: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs. These education credentials must be deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. All degrees must have been received in the year of, or any year subsequent to the original date of accreditation. Additional Information Applicants may apply who are enrolled in a qualifying degree program and are expected to complete their degree program by April 30, 2025. Additional selections may be made for similar positions across NASA within the local commuting area(s) of the location(s) identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) within NASA. CTAP/ICTAP will be cleared for any additional selection from this announcement. This appointment may be extended beyond the initial appointment date, for a period not to exceed a total of 10-years. Current Federal civilian employees may apply for this position. If selected, a break in service of at least 4 calendar days may be required prior to appointment to this position. If you have special priority selection rights under the Agency Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) or the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must: – Indicate your eligibility when applying for a position. The questionnaire asks you to identify your ICTAP/CTAP eligibility. – Meet the minimum qualifications requirements for the position – Submit proof that you meet the requirements for CTAP/ICTAP as indicated in Required Documents For additional information about CTAP/ICTAP eligibility, click here – https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/#ictap. Depending on position assignment, position may or may not be in a bargaining unit. To learn more about bargaining units at NASA please click here NASA Unions (Bargaining Units) | NASA.